Abstract
Background
There has been increasing concern expressed about the welfare of exotic pets worldwide. For the purposes of this article, an exotic pet is considered to be a non-domesticated ...species, where there are knowledge gaps on good practice (minimum standards of care), veterinary diagnostics and treatments. The categories of exotic pets included in this study were: small mammals (< 20 kg), large mammals (> 20 kg), birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates. Dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, mice, rats, and ferrets were excluded from the study. An online survey of pet owning staff at University College Dublin was conducted between July and August 2020 to provide the first empirical data for Ireland. In this pilot study (the first in this thematic series) we aim to characterise exotic pet ownership, the challenges and benefits of keeping exotic pets, and access to veterinary services from the pet owner’s perspective.
Results
Using an online survey this pilot study gathered evidence from 83 domestic and 32 exotic pet owners within the staff (
n
= ~ 3600 FTE) at University College Dublin, the largest third level institution in Ireland. The prevalence of exotic pet ownership was determined to be 34.4 % of households with more than 10 % of pet owning households owning only exotic pets. Fish (
n
= 15), reptiles (
n
= 13) and birds (
n
= 8) were the most common types of exotic pets. Thirty-four per cent of exotic pet owners never sought veterinary services, the most common reasons were due to lack of local veterinary specialists (
n
= 10) and good owner knowledge (
n
= 8). However identifying appropriate guidance on the animals’ needs was a common challenge for exotic pet owners (
n
= 13). A reasonable monthly cost of caring for an exotic ranged from €20–180, depending on the species.
Conclusions
This pilot study contains important implications for veterinary education to support the veterinary community with providing services to the exotic pet owning community. Policy issues with exotic pet ownership also need to be considered and further research into the proposed strategies to support the health and welfare of exotic pets should be carried out such as the introduction of white lists and guidelines on responsible pet ownership.
There has been increasing concern expressed about the welfare of exotic pets worldwide. For the purposes of this article, an exotic pet is considered to be a non-domesticated species, where there are ...knowledge gaps on good practice (minimum standards of care), veterinary diagnostics and treatments. The categories of exotic pets included in this study were: small mammals (< 20 kg), large mammals (> 20 kg), birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates. Dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, mice, rats, and ferrets were excluded from the study. An online survey of veterinary professionals conducted between July and August 2020 provides the first empirical data for Ireland. In this pilot study (the second in this thematic series) we aim to characterise the provision of veterinary services to exotic pets from the veterinary professionals' perspective, explore the main concerns of veterinary professionals towards exotic pet ownership, and their recommendations to support responsible exotic pet ownership.
Using an online survey this pilot study gathered evidence from 63 veterinary professionals currently working in private practice in Ireland. The prevalence of veterinary services for exotic pets in Ireland was determined to be 82% of small and mixed animal clinics of respondents' practices ranging from 9.1 to 100% for different categories of exotic pets. The most common issues encountered in practice with exotic pets were related to nutrition, environment, and behaviour followed by clinical diseases such as respiratory, infectious, and gastrointestinal issues. The most common concerns veterinary professionals had with exotic pet ownership related to the lack of owner knowledge as well as the lack of veterinary knowledge and accessible resources. The most common strategic initiatives indicated by veterinary professionals included black or white lists (to prohibit and permit the keeping of exotic pet species respectively), licensing for owners and increased availability of CPD for veterinary professionals.
More than four in every five veterinary professionals in small or mixed animal practices surveyed were willing to treat exotic pets and in many cases they already were. A scaffold for best practice is required to support the health and welfare of exotic pets and responsible ownership. Keystones include veterinary education to support veterinary professionals with daily practice, establishing a white list of exotic species that are suitable as pets, registration at the point of purchase to enable traceability for biosecurity purposes and research to identify care standards to support the health and welfare of exotic pets.
Abstract Background Veterinary behaviour medicine should be a foundation subject of the veterinary curriculum because of its wide scope of applications to veterinary practice. Private practitioners ...are likely to be the primary source of information on animal behaviour for most pet owners, however studies indicate that behavioural issues are not frequently discussed during companion animal consultations and many practitioners lack confidence in dealing with behavioural problems, likely due to poor coverage of this subject in veterinary education. There is a need to identify learning outcomes to support day one competences in veterinary behaviour medicine and these should be informed by practice-based evidence. This study aimed to investigate the nature and frequency of behavioural queries experienced by veterinary professionals in Ireland, the provision of behavioural services at companion animal practices, behaviour referral practices and challenges associated with providing a behaviour service. Methods Two online surveys were developed, one for private veterinary practitioners (PVP) and one for veterinary nurses (VN). Invitations to participate were distributed using contact details from the Premises Accreditation Scheme database on the Veterinary Council of Ireland website. Thirty-eight PVPs and 69 VNs completed the survey. Results Results indicated that less than half of companion animal practices offer behavioural consults and under a third of practices provide training and socialization events. Over half of the practices surveyed have referred cases to a behavioural specialist. The majority of respondents encountered behavioural queries weekly. Ninety-eight percent reported receiving queries regarding dog behaviour. Toilet training and unruly behaviour were two issues encountered frequently. Behavioural issues in cats were also common. House soiling and destructive behaviour were the problems most frequently encountered by respondents. The two most commonly cited barriers to providing behavioural consultations were lack of in-house or personal expertise, and that clients were not willing to pay for these services. Furthermore over half of all veterinary professionals surveyed indicated that they had received inadequate undergraduate training in veterinary behaviour medicine. Conclusions Behavioural problems in companion animals can affect the quality of life of pets and their owners. Our survey findings indicate that many veterinary professionals frequently encounter behavioural problems and identify an opportunity for improved provision in behaviour medicine in veterinary education.
Summary
CD8+ T‐cell responses are critical in the immunological control of tumours and infectious diseases. To prime CD8+ T cells against these cell‐associated antigens, exogenous antigens must be ...cross‐presented by professional antigen‐presenting cells (APCs). While cross‐presentation of soluble antigens by dendritic cells is detectable in vivo, the efficiency is low, limiting the clinical utility of protein‐based vaccinations. To enhance the efficiency of presentation, we generated nanoparticles from a biodegradable polymer, poly(d,l‐lactide‐co‐glycolide) (PLGA), to deliver antigen into the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigen presentation pathway. In primary mouse bone marrow‐derived dendritic cells (BMDCs), the MHC class I presentation of PLGA‐encapsulated ovalbumin (OVA) stimulated T cell interleukin‐2 secretion at 1000‐fold lower concentration than soluble antigen and 10‐fold lower than antigen‐coated latex beads. The microparticles also served as an intracellular antigen reservoir, leading to sustained MHC class I presentation of OVA for 72 hr, decreasing by only 20% after 96 hr, a time at which the presentation of soluble and latex bead‐associated antigens was undetectable. Cytosol extraction demonstrated that antigen delivery via PLGA particles increased the amount of protein that escaped from endosomes into the cytoplasm, thereby increasing the access of exogenous antigen to the classic MHC class I loading pathway. These data indicate that the unique properties of PLGA particle‐mediated antigen delivery dramatically enhance and sustain exogenous antigen presentation by MHC class I, potentially facilitating the clinical use of these particles in vaccination.
This article offers three arguments outlining the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank's significance and to help policy planners navigate the complex relationship between China, the Bank and themes ...of sustainability. First, there is little uncertainty that China is serious about development and sustainability. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is but one extension of China's increasing commitment to sustainability and should therefore be embraced by development stakeholders. Second, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank's commitment to infrastructure development complements other multilateral development banks and should not be considered a challenger to the existing order of development lending practices. Rather, China's interest in establishing the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank points to competitive pluralism and poses no threat to the existing international order. Finally, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank's sustainability guidelines are not unique and fall in line with similar policy of other large development banks. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank therefore reinforces sustainability norms while posturing itself as a partner for development.
Four management options for acutely injured cattle in Ireland exist: treatment, unless cattle are severely injured; on-farm emergency slaughter (OFES); casualty slaughter (CS) if the animal is ...certified fit for transport; or euthanasia. OFES is designed to prevent transport of welfare-compromised cattle. An online survey of farmers in Ireland was carried out between April and July 2021 and focused on events during 2020. A theoretical framework of capacity, willingness, and opportunity was used to explore farmers' perceptions. Responses from 94 farmers (49 dairy and 45 beef) were analysed; not all respondents answered all questions. Respondents indicated that the incidence of acutely injured cattle in Ireland is low. A majority reported not having an acutely injured animal for greater than 36 months. Most respondents had a positive attitude towards OFES for animal welfare reasons and were aware of relevant regulations and guidelines. Barriers to OFES included a lack of availability of OFES, and dairy farmers indicated that it had a similar financial impact as euthanasia. A parallel study with veterinarians indicated a higher incidence of acutely injured cattle in Ireland; the current results may be due to the demographic or the sensitivity of the topic. Nationwide electronic data capture on the cause of mortality could support improvements in the management of acutely injured cattle and enable surveillance of the proportion of these cattle undergoing OFES, euthanasia, or CS.
Investigators searched Medline and HealthSTAR databases from January 1, 1985 through June 30, 1999 to identify articles on suboptimal prescribing in those age 65 years and older. A manual search of ...the reference lists from identified articles and the authors' article files, book chapters, and recent reviews was conducted to identify additional articles. The definitions for various types of suboptimal prescribing (polypharmacy, inappropriate, and underutilization) are numerous, and measurement varies from study to study. The literature suggests that suboptimal prescribing is common in older outpatients and inpatients. Moreover, there is significant morbidity and mortality associated with suboptimal prescribing for these older patients. Evidence from well-controlled studies suggests that multidisciplinary teams and clinical pharmacy interventions can modify suboptimal drug use in older people. Future research is necessary to measure and test other methods for tackling this major public health problem facing older people.
Summary
What is known and objective
There are few studies examining both drug–drug and drug–disease interactions in older adults. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe the prevalence ...of potential drug–drug and drug–disease interactions and associated factors in community‐dwelling older adults.
Methods
This cross‐sectional study included 3055 adults aged 70–79 without mobility limitations at their baseline visit in the Health Aging and Body Composition Study conducted in the communities of Pittsburgh PA and Memphis TN, USA. The outcome factors were potential drug–drug and drug–disease interactions as per the application of explicit criteria drawn from a number of sources to self‐reported prescription and non‐prescription medication use.
Results
Over one‐third of participants had at least one type of interaction. Approximately one quarter (25·1%) had evidence of had one or more drug–drug interactions. Nearly 10·7% of the participants had a drug–drug interaction that involved a non‐prescription medication. % The most common drug–drug interaction was non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) affecting antihypertensives. Additionally, 16·0% had a potential drug–disease interaction with 3·7% participants having one involving non‐prescription medications. The most common drug–disease interaction was aspirin/NSAID use in those with history of peptic ulcer disease without gastroprotection. Over one‐third (34·0%) had at least one type of drug interaction. Each prescription medication increased the odds of having at least one type of drug interaction by 35–40% drug–drug interaction adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1·35, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1·27–1·42; drug–disease interaction AOR = 1·30; CI = 1·21–1·40; and both AOR = 1·45; CI = 1·34–1·57. A prior hospitalization increased the odds of having at least one type of drug interaction by 49–84% compared with those not hospitalized (drug–drug interaction AOR = 1·49, 95% CI = 1·11–2·01; drug–disease interaction AOR = 1·69, CI = 1·15–2·49; and both AOR = 1·84, CI = 1·20–2·84).
What is new and conclusion
Drug interactions are common among community‐dwelling older adults and are associated with the number of medications and hospitalization in the previous year. Longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate the impact of drug interactions on health‐related outcomes.
Targeting antigen to dendritic cells (DCs) is a powerful and novel strategy for vaccination. Priming or loading DCs with antigen controls whether subsequent immunity will develop and hence whether ...effective vaccination can be achieved. The goal of our present work was to increase the potency of DC-based antitumor vaccines by overcoming inherent limitations associated with antigen stability and cross-presentation. Nanoparticles prepared from the biodegradable polymer poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) have been extensively used in clinical settings for drug delivery and are currently the subject of intensive investigation as antigen delivery vehicles for vaccine applications. Here we describe a nanoparticulate delivery system with the ability to simultaneously carry a high density of protein-based antigen while displaying a DC targeting ligand on its surface. Utilizing a targeting motif specific for the DC-associated surface ligand DEC-205, we show that targeted nanoparticles encapsulating a MART-127-35 peptide are both internalized and cross-presented with significantly higher efficiency than isotype control-coated nanoparticles in human cells. In addition, the DEC-205-labeled nanoparticles rapidly escape from the DC endosomal compartment and do not colocalize with markers of early (EEA-1) or late endosome/lysosome (LAMP-1). This indicates that encapsulated antigens delivered by nanoparticles may have direct access to the class I cytoplasmic major histocompatibility complex loading machinery, overcoming the need for "classical" cross-presentation and facilitating heightened DC stimulation of anti-tumor CD8(+) T-cells. These results indicate that this delivery system provides a flexible and versatile methodology to deliver melanoma-associated antigen to DCs, with both high efficiency and heightened potency.
Elesclomol ((
-malonyl-bis(
-methyl-
-thiobenzoylhydrazide)); formerly STA-4783) is a mitochondria-targeted chemotherapeutic agent that has demonstrated efficacy in selective cancer cell killing in ...pre-clinical and clinical testing. The biologically active form of elesclomol is a deprotonated copper chelate (elesclomol:copper; E:C), which has been shown to enhance reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and induce a transcriptional gene profile characteristic of an oxidative stress response in vitro. Previous studies suggest that E:C interacts with the electron transport chain (ETC) to generate high levels of ROS within the organelle and ultimately induce cell death. The purpose of this study was to further explore the mechanism of cellular and mitochondrial toxicity of E:C by examining its direct effect on mitochondrial bioenergetic function. The results obtained indicate that E:C treatment in whole cells of non-tumorigenic origin at high concentrations (40 M and higher) induces a rapid and substantial increase in mitochondrial superoxide levels and dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, similar higher concentrations of E:C act as a direct uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation and generalized inhibitor of electron transport activity in isolated, intact mitochondria, and induce a dose-dependent inhibition of mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase activity in freeze-thawed mitochondrial preparations. The results of this study are important in that they are the first to demonstrate a direct effect of the E:C chelate on bioenergetic function in isolated mammalian mitochondria, and suggest the possibility that the increase in ROS production and cytotoxicity induced by E:C may in part be due to uncoupling of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and/or inhibition of electron transport activity. These results also provide important information about the mechanisms of mitochondrial and cellular toxicity induced by E:C and will ultimately contribute to a better understanding of the therapeutic potential of elesclomol as an anticancer compound.
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